Catholics Voting for Kerry
William Jeakle writes in the Seattle Times:
American Catholics have long dealt with the challenge of keeping faith private while participating in public life. ... Now, at a time when evangelical politicians increasingly bring religion into their political rhetoric, we are lumbering toward a crossroads. There is profound irony that those who support "moral need" for the Ten Commandments in school, consistently viewed as a violation of the Constitution, also support increased use of the death penalty, preemptive war and policies that result in increased separation between the rich and poor of this nation.
Considering the fact that this is about Catholics in America, Jeakle should have added the fact that the "Ten Commandments" people are trying to push in schools are consistently Protestant versions of the Commandments, not Catholic versions.
To many Catholics, even those who oppose abortion, Kerry represents the clear moral choice. Having been to war, Kerry appears to understand the tragedy and chaos of the battlefield far more than our current president. Though he is a rich man, he brings many of the teachings of the church to his day-to-day messaging — believing in the morality of adequate health care, jobs, America's role in the world, and a sense of purpose for its young people.
And on the divisive issue of choice, Kerry's position is far more considered than his opponent's, far more likely to move the nation toward greater respect for life, far more realistic. I, like many American Catholics, believe that Kerry's opponent uses the issue of choice cynically, as an opportunity to divide Americans who would otherwise focus on his own disappointing record.
Compassion and nuance are blue-state words, but as the election cycle winds down, as the political winds buffet the candidates' positions, I believe Kerry is far less political in his beliefs and actions. He windsurfs and the pundits guffaw. He serves in Vietnam, and the non-serving power elite discredits. He attends Mass, and the non-church-going moralists question his morality. The bishops wish to focus the attention on a single issue that they, celibate men all, have little credibility to judge.
On an official level, the Republican Party doesn't really believe in or support the separation of church and state. The GOP seeks to blend religion and politics to the point where it becomes government policy to privilege certain religions and religious doctrines over all others. This is not something that American Catholics can support — but they do when they vote Republican.
It is also a fact that Republican social policies, if enacted fully and followed consistently, could be contrary to the social justice policies of the Vatican. American Catholics disagree with the Vatican on many things, but only the most conservative Catholics appear willing to jettison the teachings on social justice.
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